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So, I just finished the book How To See and Read the Aura by Ted Andrews and I'm looking for some other materials to work with and enhance my own self. His book has sparked an interest in a number of subjects including crystals, incense and meditation

I found a few books that I'd like to get from Scott Cunningham:1. Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem & Metal Magic2. The Complete Book of Incense, Oils and Brews3. Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs

I did a search of the forum and couldn't find anything negative about Cunningham or Kynes work.

If anyone has any other suggestions for books on crystals, incense, meditation or psychic powers, or anything else that they think might be of interest to someone new at all this, I'm all ears... or eyes since it's a forum and I can't hear you.

I found the above pretty useful, there's quite a bit of practical information as well as some correspondence charts etc. I haven't done anything with the charts but made a few oils following his advice (to be fair mixing oils at home isn't exactly rocket science) but it's still been quite useful

Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call to her tribunal every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear. - Thomas Jefferson

It does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God. - Thomas Jefferson

I found the above pretty useful, there's quite a bit of practical information as well as some correspondence charts etc. I haven't done anything with the charts but made a few oils following his advice (to be fair mixing oils at home isn't exactly rocket science) but it's still been quite useful

Yeah, Rocket Science will come soon though, I'm going back to school to study physics next year...

That book on Incense, Oils and Brews is actually my number 1 pick for my next reading assignment, the 1., 2., 3., up there isn't my order of preference, it's just the way I wrote it... hehe.

I'm glad you found it useful, from what I've read it sounds like a good book on that subject matter. Plus I'm a firm believer in controlling your own environment and have heard good things about incense and aroma therapy and all that.

I found a few books that I'd like to get from Scott Cunningham:1. Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem & Metal Magic

I have very little experience in herb, oils, etc., but I can tell you that Cunningham's book on crystals is very limited and somewhat dated. There are several much more comprehensive books available that are -- IMO -- better. But the one thing about rocks/stones/gems/crystals that I can say with complete confidence is that everyone reacts differently to different stones. F'ex, for some people, hematite is a great grounding stone, while other people feel slimy just touching it. This very personal kind of reaction limits the usefulness of any metaphysical book about stones/crystals. This is a subject in which you have to let your personal experience be your guide.

To get started, I'd recommend searching this forum for "crystals". You'll come up with a bunch of threads with great info and book recommendations.

~ Aster

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"The single biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place." ~ George Bernard Shaw

I have very little experience in herb, oils, etc., but I can tell you that Cunningham's book on crystals is very limited and somewhat dated. There are several much more comprehensive books available that are -- IMO -- better. But the one thing about rocks/stones/gems/crystals that I can say with complete confidence is that everyone reacts differently to different stones. F'ex, for some people, hematite is a great grounding stone, while other people feel slimy just touching it. This very personal kind of reaction limits the usefulness of any metaphysical book about stones/crystals. This is a subject in which you have to let your personal experience be your guide.

To get started, I'd recommend searching this forum for "crystals". You'll come up with a bunch of threads with great info and book recommendations.

~ Aster

Thanks, I thought the same thing about stones/crystals, and even incense and herbs and whatnot... just because one person reacts to something one way doesn't mean everyone will react the same way.

My idea for getting books like that is to get a bit of basic information about, and maybe even some more advanced information, and create my own book with everything I learn and how it affects me and my surroundings.

Thanks, I thought the same thing about stones/crystals, and even incense and herbs and whatnot... just because one person reacts to something one way doesn't mean everyone will react the same way.

I find it helpful to pull together a bunch of different correspondences - including ones I've thought up myself - and comparing them in a list. Sometimes if you have no place to start, you can use someone else's thoughts as a jumping off point and at the very least figure out if you agree or disagree with them. For example, rosemary is often used as a remembering aid. (My psychology textbook actually used rosemary oil as an example of strengthening memory. Smell the oil when you're studying, then smell it during a test and you're supposedly more likely to remember the material.) However, I know plenty of folks who find that rosemary puts them to sleep. And I get a warm happy feeling from the plant that feels like "safe warm house belonging sunshine."

I find it helpful to pull together a bunch of different correspondences - including ones I've thought up myself - and comparing them in a list. Sometimes if you have no place to start, you can use someone else's thoughts as a jumping off point and at the very least figure out if you agree or disagree with them. For example, rosemary is often used as a remembering aid. (My psychology textbook actually used rosemary oil as an example of strengthening memory. Smell the oil when you're studying, then smell it during a test and you're supposedly more likely to remember the material.) However, I know plenty of folks who find that rosemary puts them to sleep. And I get a warm happy feeling from the plant that feels like "safe warm house belonging sunshine."

Yeah, I like reading different sources on one subject.

I just bought The Complete Book of Incense, Oils and Brews and Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem, & Metal Magic, both by Scott Cunningham.He took a "find out for yourself" approach in the Incense, Oils and Brews book, I just started reading it. He pretty much says "this is the way I do it, but it's okay to do it different if you feel like doing it different." and has a bibliography in the back of other books that he thinks would be of interest on the subject matters.

He lists Rosemary as being good for a number of different things, but nothing that would make me think to use it while studying or during a test... or even using it for going to sleep. But I haven't read all the recipes yet, so it might be in one for doing either thing.

He took a "find out for yourself" approach in the Incense, Oils and Brews book, I just started reading it. He pretty much says "this is the way I do it, but it's okay to do it different if you feel like doing it different."

Which is why I like Cunningham, overall. He doesn't make it seem as though his way is the only way, and encourages the reader to experiment and find out what works for them.

I think his books are great to get you started. Just don't be surprised if some things don't make sense to you, or you feel differently about some stuff once you start working with it.

For example, in Encyclopedia of Magical herbs he says that Lovage is supposed to inspire love and make you more attractive. Personally, I think the stuff is awful! IMO, it smells like ass. I can't imagine taking a bath in the stuff, yuck! Or being even remotely attracted to someone who did.

Also, I agree with Aster Breo that Crystals, Gems and Metal Magic is a little dated. For example, in it he claims that sunstone is very rare. It may have been at the time, but it's pretty easy to find now.

So yeah, I like his books. Just don't be afraid to do your own thing too.

Which is why I like Cunningham, overall. He doesn't make it seem as though his way is the only way, and encourages the reader to experiment and find out what works for them.

I think his books are great to get you started. Just don't be surprised if some things don't make sense to you, or you feel differently about some stuff once you start working with it.

For example, in Encyclopedia of Magical herbs he says that Lovage is supposed to inspire love and make you more attractive. Personally, I think the stuff is awful! IMO, it smells like ass. I can't imagine taking a bath in the stuff, yuck! Or being even remotely attracted to someone who did.

Also, I agree with Aster Breo that Crystals, Gems and Metal Magic is a little dated. For example, in it he claims that sunstone is very rare. It may have been at the time, but it's pretty easy to find now.

So yeah, I like his books. Just don't be afraid to do your own thing too.

We learn more about safety information - which can be a big deal with the herbal information, but also for things like incense.

For crystals, metals, and gems, it's less of an issue, but a more recent book might include, say, things about mining approaches or origins of stones, which some people care about a lot. (Or things like what chemical treatments for color are out there, and what to be aware of.)

We learn more about safety information - which can be a big deal with the herbal information, but also for things like incense.

For crystals, metals, and gems, it's less of an issue, but a more recent book might include, say, things about mining approaches or origins of stones, which some people care about a lot. (Or things like what chemical treatments for color are out there, and what to be aware of.)

So it's not really that big of a deal to use older books as look as you make sure you're not going to poison yourself.

So it's not really that big of a deal to use older books as look as you make sure you're not going to poison yourself.

Depends on what you're looking for. For magical stuff, probably not a huge issue, though I tend to want to look at more recent material even there - people get better at talking about topics, have new approaches, etc. that may not be reflected in an older title.

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I have geology books for mining and origins of stones.

Except that most geology books don't cover color treating of stones - gemology and jewelry books sometimes do, but you sort of have to go looking for the information.

(And I don't know about anyone else, but my geology books didn't spend much time on crystal and gemstone mining - or whether particular mining locations were ethical, treated their workers fairly, paid appropriate attention to health/safety/etc. issues, which is something I try to be attentive with when considering magical work.)

I can't say much about your other interests - I haven't delved into crystals or incense etc - but this is one of my favorite magical herb books. However, I wanted to say:

1. For anything you're going to ingest, apply topically, or inhale (as in, incense), you really need to check against a good medicinal herbal. I really like Jack Ritchason's Little Herb Encyclopedia as a starting point, but there are probably good reliable sources you could find on the internet as well. Also, I've found medicinal herbals to be better than magical ones at providing instructions on the practical aspects of making things like oils, lotions, etc. Rosemary Gladstar's Herbal Healing for Women has some good recipes. (Even if you're not interested in medicinal herbalism at all, a lotion is a lotion.)

and 2. FWIW - Cunningham's entries are very anecdotal and he isn't very good about citing sources, etc. Nevertheless, I've used spells straight from the book and they've been remarkably effective.